July-August 2014

Rumba virtuosi from Latin America

“an incomparable performer.”

– The New York Times

2014 ringling internatiOnal arts Festival

4 Days OF MUsiC, DanCe & theater

Opening n ight Celebrati O n

ocTober 15

Featuring bolero SaraSoTa

*Opening night tickets: $125, $120, $115 Raise a champagne toast to the opening Night performance of your choice (Pedrito martinez, Tangram or Duo amal) before gathering in The Ringling Courtyard for bolero Sarasota, a choreographic event created by larry Keigwin. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, soft drinks, and cash bar as the celebration climaxes with our annual fireworks display.

PlaN Now foR youR fEsTival ExPERiENCE

Festival stage

20%

Production Tickets: $35, $30, $25 Purchase 7 and saVe 20% Purchase 4+ and saVe 10%

The ringling international arts Festival returns october 15-18 to launch the arts and cultural season in sarasota and manatee counties. more than one hundred performers from across the u s., Central and south america, the middle East, and Europe will gather together in four theaters within walking distance proximity for a full roster of dance, jazz, comic puppetry, world music, a touch of circus, and even an intergalactic space adventure.

Park the car and enjoy the entire day. affordably priced performances, on-site restaurants, jazz sunsets, lively conversations, and The Ringling’s world-renowned museums and gardens are all part of the 2014 festival experience.

The Table A cantankerous puppet is having an existential crisis

“... astonishing...

total brilliance …”

– Chicago Sun-Times

(Not intended for children)

Vijay iyer Trio

Powerful cutting-edge new music

“Presto! here is the great new jazz piano trio.”

– The New York Times

Columbus Day

presented in partnership with new College of Florida

ocT 15*, 16 – 18

ocT 16 – 18

ocT 16 – 18

p hoto courtesy of artist

p hoto courtesy of artist

photo by Jimmy Katz

Tangram

From Berlin, Cirque and ballet win an extraordinary pas de deux “...both beautiful and breathtaking.”

– ThreeWeeks/Edinburgh

Duo amal

The preeminent Palestinian and Israeli pianists of their generation

“When the music ends, if you’re not deeply moved… you might want to check your pulse.”

– NPR

The rinGlinG esTaTe

thUrs – sat, OCt 16 – 18

9:00 aM – 5:00 pM

purchase any riaF stage production ticket and the Museum of art, Ca’ d’Zan, Circus Museum, and bayfront gardens are yours to explore Free oF charGe during the Festival.

additional Festival events: jazz sunseTs on sarasoTa bay

thUrs & Fri, OCt 16 & 17

5:00 – 8:00 pM

Join us under the tent each evening as the sun sets on sarasota bay. Food and beverages are available for purchase. Free of charge with any Festival stage production or Museum admission ticket for the day.

ocT 16 – 18

KeiGWin + comPany

An electrifying brand of contemporary choreography

“… astonishing feats of dancing … a parcel of pure explosive energy.”

– The New York Times

GaTehouse GaTherinGs

thUrs – sat, OCt 16 – 18

3:00 – 5:00 pM

in between afternoon performances, please stop by the gatehouse patio at the ringling visitor pavilion and join other festival patrons for lite-bites, libations, and lively conversations. no admission fee. Food and beverages are available for purchase.

ocT 15*, 16 – 18

Duo a mal is exclusively represented by i tzik b echer, aviv p roductions i nc.

Photo courtesy of artist

Photo by m

p hoto by b en h opper p hoto courtesy of artist

SOUTHWESTFLORIDA JULY–AUGUST V

News & Previews – ON THE GULF ... 6 GUIDE – Florida Colleges ... 14

GulfCoastWritersAssociation – 2014 ContestWinners ... 17 GALLERY – Eric Elias ... 25 Calendar – WHAT GOES ON ... 32

WINE & DINE – DINING GUIDE ... 38

© Copyright July 2014 by FT MYERS&SWFL magazine. All rights reserved. FT.MYERS& SOUTHWEST FLORIDA magazine is published bi-monthly by And Pat, llc. No portion of FT MYERSmagazine may be reproduced without permission.

The acceptance of advertisements by FT.MYERS&SOUTHWEST FLORIDA magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the product or service advertised.

FT MYERS& SOUTHWEST FLORIDA magazine assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertisements.

Next Issue : September–October 2014

ADVERTISINGDEADLINE :AUGUST12

516-652-6072 • 239-433-3884 ftmyers@optonline.net

Andrew Elias : CREATIVE DIRECTOR –DESIGNER Pat Simms-Elias : EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

REGULARCONTRIBUTORS

Jeff Berlinke, Julie Clay, Carol DeFrank, Cindy-jo Dietz, Eric Elias, Pat Jand, Philip K. Jason, Jeri Magg, Randi McAlpine., Maurice Narcis

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUGSTAMM

CONTENTSPHOTOGRAPH : Hammond Stadium, home of the Fort Myers Miracle.

International Arts Festival Returns to Sarasota

The Ringling International Arts Festival (RIAF), a celebration of contemporary dance, jazz, comic puppetry, world music, and nouveau cirque, returns to Sarasota, October 15-18, featuring performances by artists from the United States\, Central and South America, the Middle East, Europe, and Great Britain.

Thirty performances of seven productions are scheduled in four venues, all within walkingdistance of The Ringling’s campus. With daily curtain times at 2, 5 & 8pm, as well as free jazz concerts, museum tours and conversations, RIAF is designed to encourage day-long visits by performing arts enthusiasts.

Among this year’s featured performers are The Pedrito Martinez Group, with AfroCuban percussionist Martinez leading a quartet of Rumba virtuosi from Cuba, Venezuela, and Peru; Tangram, performed by ballerina Cristiana Casadio and circus artist Stefan; Duo Amal: Bishara Haroni and Yaron Kohlberg, the preeminent pianists of their generation in their respective homelands –Palestine and Israel; the Vijay Iyer Trio, one of the most celebrated ensembles in jazz; and The Intergalactic Nemesis, Book One: Target Earth: A live-action graphic novel presented in a

Jazz pianist Vijay Iyer performs with his Trio, October 16-18 at the Ringling International Arts Festival in Sarasota.

mash-up of radio drama and graphic storytelling.

Tickets for the Ringling International Arts Festival are on sale now. Call 941-360-7399 for information.

WGCU Documentary Screened

at the Alliance for the Arts

The Fort Myers Film Festival presents a screening of Pink Gold Rush, a production of WGCU Public Media, in Foulds Theatre

at the Alliance for the Arts on July 11 at 7:30pm. Awarded the People’s Choice Award at the 2014 Fort Myers Beach Film Festival, the hour-long documentary explores the history of shrimping in Southwest Florida, the impact the industry has had on the region’s economy, development and environment, and the stories of the men and women on Fort Myers Beach whose livelihoods are tied to it.

Following the film there will be a Q&A panel discussion with a number of people featured in the documentary, including retired shrimpers Bob & Douglas Kiesel, retired teacher Dot Kiesel, Bait Box owner Ralph Woodring, SCCF Research Scientist Rick Bartleson and Florida Sea Grant Agent Joy Hazell.

The screening starts at 7:30pm. A $5 donation is suggested. Donations support educational programming at the Alliance. The Alliance for the Arts is located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers. For information, call 939-2787.

Venice Theatre Presents 2nd AnnualSummer Cabaret Festival

Venice Theatre presents its 2nd annual Summer Cabaret Festival July 18–August 24, in ‘Pinky’s

Pink Gold, the People’s Choice Award winner at the 2014 Fort Myers Beach Film Festival, will be screened at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers on July 11.

Cabaret,’ the theatre’s 90-seat Pinkerton Theatre. Twenty-one different acts will be performing throughout the festival. Nine acts are returning from last summer to share new material and 11 brand-new acts have been added to the roster.

To accommodate the increased number of entertainers, in addition to weekend shows, the theatre has added several Tuesday & Wednesday evening performances as well as late-night shows and Sunday evenings.

S UMMER C ABARETLINE - UP

JUL 18 & AUG 3: Coloring

Broadway

JUL 19 & 20 : Smoke & Mirrors

JUL 20 & 31 :Did He Write That?

JUL 23 & AUG 1 :Big Fish, Little

Pond

JUL 24 & AUG 2 :Crazy Ever After

JUL 2 & AUG 8 :I Want it All

JUL 26 & AUG 15 :Black

Diamond Burlesque

JUL 27 : The Music of Your Life

JUL 27 & 30 :The Last 15 Years

JUL 29 : Classic Country Cabaret

AUG 3 :Dorian and the Furniture

AUG 6 : Vaudeville to Vegas

AUG 7 & 17 :Beyond the Chorus

AUG 9 & 21 : Where Have You Been?

AUG 10 & 14 :Bach to the Future

AUG 10 & 19 : Still Scoundrels

AUG 12 :An Evening of Inspiration

AUG 13 & 17 :Naughty and Nice

AUG 16 & 22 : Mostly Naughty Musical – Random Acts

AUG 20 & 24 :Wouldn’t it Be Nice?

AUG 23 & 24 : Vocal Vixens Venice Theatre is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave. on the island in Venice. Call 941-488-1115 for information.

Florida Rep’s Robert Cacioppo to Speak at SWFL Museum of History

R obert Cacioppo, the founder and producing artistic director of Florida Rep, will speak about the history of theater in Southwest Florida at the next Southwest Florida Historical

Society monthly meeting on July 10.

The Florida Rep is located in the historic Arcade Theatre in downtown Fort Myers. The building opened in 1915. Florida Rep was founded in 1998 and has become a Southwest Florida cultural treasure.

The Southwest Florida Historical Society is a non-profit organization operated by volunteers. The Society research center is located on the Campus of the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. Hours are 9am-12pm & 4-7pm on Wednesday and 9am12pm on Saturday.

The event starts at 6:30pm at the Southwest Florida Museum of History, located at 2031 Jackson St. in Fort Myers. Admission is free. For information, call 939-4044.

NaplesBotanical Garden Closes for Summer Construction

Naples Botanical Garden will be closed until a tentative Grand ReOpening scheduled for October 23 as construction on the Eleanor & Nicholas Chabraja Visitor Center is

completed. During this time, large scale projects such as the completion of the center and three new gardens, the LaGrippe Orchid Garden, the Charismatic Garden and Kathryn’s Garden will be completed. These new gardens are designed by renowned Landscape architect Raymond Jungles. The Chabraja Visitor Center has been designed to LEED

(Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold Standards by award-winning Lake|Flato Architects from San Antonio, Texas. The center will serve to increase the number and variety of lectures, exhibits, events, and educational symposiums at Naples Botanical Garden as well as offering an enhanced Fogg Café. You can get up-to-date construction information on www.naplesgarden.org, including project timelines, photographs and videos.

Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre world-class garden

The Vocal Vixens perform the final show of Venice Theatre’s Summer Cabaret series on August 23 & 24.

Bob Cacioppo, Artistic Director of Florida Repertory Theatre, will speak on July 10 at the SWFLMuseum of History in Fort Myers’ Historic River District.

paradise that features the plants and cultures of the tropics and subtropics between the latitudes of 26 degrees North and 26 degrees South including Brazil, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Florida. There is also a hands-on interactive Children’s Garden along with 90 acres of beautifully restored natural habitats, walking trails and a Butterfly Garden.

The Naples Botanical Garden is located at 4820 Bayshore Drive in Naples. Call 643-7275 for information.

MangoMania in Cape Coral

MangoMania, the traditional celebration of Pine Island’s mangoes and other tropical fruits, will again be held at the German-American Social Club in Cape Coral on July 19 & 20. The tropical fruit family festival features recipe contests for amateurs and restaurants, kid’s games and activities, and contests such as the Precision Mango Toss, Mango Pie Eating, Mango Juggling, and the Mango Hat Parade.

There will also be a crafts and food fair as well as live music and entertainment performed by Hot Flashz Dancers, Trailer Park Barbie & The Boys, Hipnauticals, Gators in the Sawgrass, Calendar Girls, Bonham 528.

MangoMania is open 10am7pm on July 19 and 10am-5pm on July 20.

The German-American Social Club is located at 2101 Pine Island Rd. in Cape Coral. Call 283-0888 for information.

The Art of People with SpecialAbilities at Davis Art Center

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and the Arts in Healthcare program at Lee Memorial Health System present ‘Unlimited: The Artistry of People With Special

The Alliance for the Arts presents ‘Majestic Places/ Majestic Faces’ photographs by Fort Myers native David White.

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers is hosting ‘Unlimited: The Artistry of People with Special Abilities’ thru July 25.

Abilities,’ an exhibition of artists and performers with special abilities. The show, which opens for Art Walk on July 4, 6-10pm, is on view thru July 25.

Selected local artists, from a wide range of ages, who are gifted with special abilities and being challenged with physical and emotional challenges will showcase their talents and skills in art and music to express, enrich, enhance and excel their lives. 2-D drawings, paintings, mixed media, fabric and 3-D art

are on display and offered for sale for the entire month of July.

Students, artists, performers and musicians from the Exceptional Student Education program in Lee County School System, De LaSalle Academy in Fort Myers, the Special Populations program in Cape Coral, LARC, The Lighthouse Center in North Fort Myers and Art by the disABLED program at Lee Memorial Health System will be featured.

The Davis Art Center will also present a special concert from exhibit participants at Music Walk on Friday, July 18th from 7pm to 10pm.

The Davis Art Center is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, plus open to 11pm during Art Walk the first Friday of the month. The Art center is located at 2301 First St. in the River District in downtown Fort Myers. For information, call 333-1933.

Majestic Places & Faces at the Alliance

The gallery at Alliance for the Arts will host an exhibition of images taken by photographer David White during his 9 years living and teaching in Jakarta,

2014 Mango Queen Valerie will be appearing at MangoMania on July 19 & 20 at the German-American Social Club in Cape Coral.

Indonesia. ‘Majestic Places/ Majestic Faces’ will be on display July 3 - August 1. The show includes 300 photographs and maps strung together in an installation representing a walk through a scrapbook.

“Majestic Places/Majestic Faces” features the cultural and natural beauty of Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The opening reception is July 11, from 5:30-7pm. White will host a Gallery Walk on July 12, from 1011am. Both events are free and open to the public. The exhibit is on display July 3 - August 1.

The Alliance for the Arts’ campus, located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers, is open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday and 8am-1pm on Saturday. Call 939-2787 for information.

Free Jazz Concerts at the Naples Beach Hotel

Apopular Southwest Florida tradition continues as The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club will again host its 29th annual ‘SummerJazz on the Gulf’ concert series. Each concert is held on the resort’s scenic Watkins Lawn overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and the setting sun.

Remaining free concerts are scheduled for 6:30-9:30pm on July

26 (Late Night Brass), August 16 (Pocket Change) and September 13 (The Mud Flappers Band).

The Naples Beach Hotel is located at 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. North in Naples. Parking is available just north of the hotel at Lowdermilk Park, with free parking provided to those with a Naples beach sticker, and free trolley service to the resort and back. Guests may bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating, however no outside food and beverage is allowed on resort grounds. For information, call 261-2222.

Polk Museum Shows B&W

Photographs

Polk Museum of Art presents an exhibition of black-and-white photography by nationally recognized photographer and author Richard Sexton. The exhibition, ‘Terra Incognita: Photographs of America’s Third Coast,’ will be on view through September 13.

‘Terra Incognita’ comprises 57 photos taken over a 15-year span along the Gulf Coast. Photographs depict marsh, scrub lands, dunes, beaches, swamps and forests from

the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Florida Panhandle.

The exhibition will be celebrated at a reception on August 22, from 6-8:30pm. The artist will lecture about his work beginning at 6pm, followed by a reception that is open to the public.

Polk Museum of Art is located at 800 E. Palmetto St. in Lakeland, Florida. Call 863-688-7743 for information.

ARTISTS WANTED Art By Veterans

The Caloosahatchee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is inviting all veterans to participate in an art show they will be hosting at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center (SBDAC) November 7-21.

The exhibition is open to all veterans and for artwork of any subject matter and medium. There is no size limitation, but hanging work must be either matted or framed.

Artists must submit their bios, image of artwork, dimensions, and sales price by August 1.

The Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in downtown Fort Myers’ historic River District. A private opening reception will be held November 7, from 4:30-6pm.

Artists will receive 50% of the sales price and the DAR will receive 20% of the sales price, which will be used to fund projects to help veterans and children.

For information, call 470-3474.

ArtFest Fort Myers

ArtFest Fort Myers is accepting applications from professional artists for their 15th annual juried fine art festival, scheduled for February 7&8, 2015.

All artwork exhibited must be created solely by the displaying artists. Artist entries are accepted in 16 categories: Ceramics, Digital, Drawing, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media 2-D, Mixed Media 3-D, PaintingWatercolor, Painting-Oil/Acrylic, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Wearable and Wood.

Artists are selected to participate by an independent jury panel of art professionals, who score submitted images on artistic conception, originality and workmanship.

Cash prizes totaling $5,000 will be awarded to participating artists at the fine art festival. For more information, call 768-3602.

ArtFest Poster

ArtFest Fort Myers has announced a Poster/T-shirt Competition for the 2015 festival open to all professional artists, not just those applying to participate in ArtFest Fort Myers 2015.

The artist whose work is selected for the Poster/T-shirt will be featured in a broad range of print, online and VIP promotions, as well as a free booth space at ArtFest Fort Myers 2015, a complimentary three night stay at our host hotel, plus an invitation to join us at ArtFest Fort Myers 2016.

Submissions for this contest must represent original artwork, in a theme that reflects Southwest Florida and is appealing to a broad audience. Entries are being accepted through August 20. Proceeds from the sales of the Commemorative Poster and TShirt help to support ArtFest Fort Myers’ art education outreach programs – The After School Art Clubs, the Boys and Girls Art Club at Shady Oaks, The Visiting Artist Program and Art Supply Grants. For more information, call 239768-3602

Auditions

The Naples Players will hold auditions for Noises Off on July 12 at 2pm at Sugden Community Theatre in Naples. No appointment is necessary.

Auditions are for four women, two ages 35-55 and two ages 2035, and five men, two ages 3555, two ages 20-35 and one age 60-75. Rehearsals begin August 4. Show dates are September 24October 18. The play will be directed by Dallas Dunnagan, Artistic Director at The Naples Players. Scripts are available at the box office for 72 hours perusal with a $20 deposit.

The Naples Players’ auditions are open to all interested persons, regardless of age, race or experience. All that is required is the desire to be involved in a production and the willingness to commit time and effort to the project.

Sugden Community Theatre is located at 701 5th Ave. S., Naples. For information, call 434-7340.

‘SummerJazz on the Gulf‘ marks 29 years of free concerts at the Naples Beach Hotel.

Florida COLLEGE Guide

EVERGLADES UNIVERSITY

BOCA RATON CAMPUS

5002 T-Rex Avenue • Suite 100 • Boca Raton

BOCA RATON ONLINE

5002 T-Rex Avenue • Suite 200 • Boca Raton

ORLANDO CAMPUS

887 East Altamonte Drive • Altamonte Springs

SARASOTA CAMPUS

6001 Lake Osprey Drive • Suite 110 • Sarasota 888-226-8604

www.evergladesuniversity.edu

Everglades University is an accredited, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) University offering Bachelor's Degree programs in Crisis and Disaster Management, Alternative & Renewable Energy Management, Construction Management, Business Administration, Applied Management, Aviation Technology, Aviation Management, and Alternative Medicine. Everglades also offers Master's Degree programs in Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, and Aviation Science.

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE COLLEGE

THOMAS EDISON CAMPUS(LEE COUNTY)

8099 College Parkway • Fort Myers

CHARLOTTE COUNTY CAMPUS

26300 Airport Road • Punta Gorda

COLLIER COUNTY CAMPUS

7505 Grand Lely Drive • Naples

HENDRY/GLADES CENTER

1092 E. Cowboy Way • LaBelle

General Number 800-749-2322

800-955-8771 (HEARINGIMPAIRED TTY)

Thomas Edison Campus 239-489-9300

Charlotte County Campus 941-637-5629

Collier County Campus 239-732-3700

Hendry/Glades Center 863-674-0408

www.fsw.edu

Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving more than 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationallyranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs.

HODGES UNIVERSITY

NAPLES CAMPUS

2655 Northbrooke Drive Naples 239-513-1122

FORT MYERS CAMPUS

4501 Colonial Boulevard

Fort Myers 239-482-0019

844-HODGESU

www.hodges.edu

Hodges University, founded in 1990, has emerged as one of Florida’s leading institutions of higher learning offering a diverse range of associate, bachelor and master degree programs, as well as certificate programs. Flexible schedules of day, evening, weekend and online classes are available, taught from caring professors with real-world experience.

STETSON UNIVERSITY

421 N. Woodland Boulevard DeLand

386-822-7100

www.stetson.edu

Founded in 1883, Stetson University is a private, comprehensive university with liberal arts and professional academic programs. The College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration and School of Music are located in DeLand. The College of Law and Law Center are in the Tampa Bay area. The Stetson Center at Celebration is near Orlando.

THE SALON PROFESSIONAL ACADEMY

1388 Colonial Boulevard

Fort Myers

239-208-3958

www.tspaftmyers.com

The Salon Professional Academy is a full service, state-of-the-art academy with a curriculum and training developed with REDKEN for individuals interested in becoming Cosmetologists, Estheticians or Nail Technicians. In addition to industry leading techniques, students learn business and client development skills that are in high demand by top salons and spas. The academy is accredited and offers financial aid to students who qualify. Courses offered: Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology.

Bearer of Gifts

by K.J. Boyd

Phil inhaled the scent of newly mowed lawn as he swept the flagstone walk leading toward the house. Without question, he and Lisa had the best kept place on the block. He paused to admire the red roses blooming their heads off, the compact boxwood hedge, the glazed blue pots overflowing with yellow lantana. Lisa had designed the plantings intent on enhancing the grandeur of the two story painted brick house.

The realtor who’d shown them the property called the architecture French Country. Lisa had said the oak slab front door accented with hammered ironwork reminded her of a castle.

She’d squeezed his hand repeatedly as they’d walked from the quaint foyer into a low ceilinged great room, paneled library, and rustic country kitchen. After the house tour, they’d stood curbside and looked back. The resplendent house, nestled amongst mature oak, maple, crabapple and birch trees, beckoned to them. Though he hadn’t said, Phil had hoped a move would help them escape the painful memories haunting the rooms of their current home.

And so it had, until the killings began.

Phil set the broom in his tool shed and walked under the wisteria-covered trellis leading to the back door. He kicked off his yard shoes before entering the house. Too late to get a haircut but not too late for a cold beer, he mused, running his hands through thick graying hair usually as neatly trimmed as his lawn.

He was surprised to see Lisa washing dishes at the sink. “Hey, brown-eyed girl, didn’t see you come home.” Phil opened the fridge to get a beer. One long swig cooled his parched throat.

“You were edging around the hostas. I didn’t want to distract you.”

Lisa tested the coolness of a rack of chocolate chip cookies setting on the counter. “Still too hot to eat,” she said, plunging her hands into sudsy water. Wisps of blonde hair escaped her ponytail as she bent to her task of washing dishes.

It had taken more than a year for five inches of hair to grow over the shaved patch on her scalp. Lisa’s gaunt frame had yet to recover, maybe it never would.

“Tree-killer’s at it again,” she said in a monotone.

Phil groaned. “Who’d he hit this time?”

“Beth and Tom. They flagged me down on my way back from the store to show me their Japanese lilac tree. This morning they found poison pellets at the base of the trunk. Beth took pictures before they touched anything. She asked if we’d take the photos and pellets to our contact at the county horticultural office.”

“Damn, what’s that make, forty trees poisoned or killed in the last two years?”

Lisa stopped washing dishes. She braced her wet hands on the sink. “Forty-one including the birch we managed to save two months ago. They’ve trenched around the tree and they’ll sprinkle in charcoal like we did. Hope it works to detox the roots.”

Phil twirled his beer bottle on the top of the granite island. “Wish the cops would throw the bastard in jail.”

“You know that’ll never happen,” said Lisa, drying her hands on a paper towel. “Detective Ranson said they have to catch the guy in the act. Remember?”

“Yeah, I remember. I can’t believe it didn’t matter I saw a bag of poison pellets on the front seat of treekiller’s pick-up.”

“Or while houses all around him have lost trees not one of his has died.” Lisa rubbed the muscles at the back of her neck.

“What really blew my mind is that Ranson

shrugged me off when I told him we’d discovered every poisoned tree belonged to someone who’d confronted tree-killer,” said Phil.

He stared out the window at the birch struggling to survive. They hadn’t been able to save their pair of seventy year old oaks nor their silver maple.

“Okay. We should never have asked tree-killer not to park his truck so close to our driveway. What did Beth and Tom do to piss off the creep?” Phil asked.

“They refused a check from him at their bakery after his last three checks bounced.”

“Really? And risk losing a tree?” Now Phil surveyed the new sod finally taking hold under the birch where he’d trenched, treated and refilled the hole with untainted soil. “What’d he do when they wouldn’t take his check?”

“Beth said he didn’t flinch. Just stared them down with cold blue eyes, shoved his checkbook in those ratty cargo shorts he always wears and walked out the door.”

The color had drained from Lisa’s face. She stood before him rigid, fists clenched.

“Hey, come on,” Phil said, wrapping his arms around her. “We can’t let this take over our lives. Thought we were ordering pizza tonight and watching Titanic.”

Lisa returned his embrace. Her tensed body relaxed. Leaning back, she offered Phil a weak smile. “How many times have we seen that movie? I’ve lost count.”

Phil delayed his answer, pretending to add in his head, “This will make one thousand, three hundred twenty-six.”

Lisa rewarded his humor with a chuckle. “Let me tell you what else Beth said after ordering Tom to dig faster. She thinks everyone in the neighborhood should befriend tree-killer. Invite him to block parties. Wave to him rather than ignore him. Stuff like that. Her theory is that over time he might abandon his tree killing.”

In Phil’s estimation, the scheme warranted no more retort than bullshit but he opted for a less contentious response. “Not sure I want any part of that conspiracy.”

Lisa pulled away from him. “How come?”

Phil massaged her shoulders wondering if it was too early in the day to switch from beer to scotch. “Lisa, the police described this guy as a sociopath. What Beth’s proposing is like taping a bandage over a bullet hole.”

“Look at it like this,” Lisa countered. “I’ll bet every neighborhood in the country is vexed with a loner living in a rundown house. This might be a way to nudge tree-killer toward eccentricity and away from his sociopathic tendencies.”

Phil suppressed a snide comment about Beth headed for greatness having cracked the code for achieving world peace.

Lisa turned from him to load a plate with chocolate chip cookies. “Besides, I’m going crazy sitting around waiting for him to strike again. That’s why I baked these cookies. I’m going to wrap the plate in cellophane, tie it with a bow, and take it to him.”

Phil’s jaw dropped. “You’re not serious.”

Lisa’s voice cracked like it did whenever she tried to hold back tears. “I can’t go on this way. The killings have got to stop.”

Phil acquiesced. “You’re right, babe. What you’re doing is better than sitting around doing nothing.” He kissed her cheek and headed upstairs to the bathroom.

Showered and dressed, Phil gathered his grass-stained clothes

and wet towels. The back door slammed. He glanced out the window. Lisa hurried down the sidewalk toward tree-killer’s house. She paused to pluck at the ends of a green ribbon tied around the cookie plate. Then, with a light step, she rounded the garage and disappeared from sight.

Phil headed to the utility room. He dumped his armful of laundry into the washer and reached for detergent from an overhead shelf. A clear plastic bag next to the soap caught his eye. Taking it down, he slipped out two photos and set them side by side on the counter. One showed a full view of the Japanese lilac tree in Beth and Tom’s backyard. The other, a close-up shot, zoomed in on a handful of poison pellets at the base of the trunk.

The photos spurred his hatred toward tree-killer for the debilitating effect his malicious behavior had on Lisa. Her gardens, the shaded arbor and terra cotta planters overflowing with colorful annuals had brought her back from the brink of emotional collapse. But now she lived in constant fear of discovering something else poisoned in her yard.

Phil turned his attention to half a dozen pellets scattered loosely in the bottom of the bag. That’s strange, he thought. There’s a handful of pellets in the photo but only a few here. What happened to the rest of the poison?

He drummed his fingers on the counter considering the possibilities, then froze. “Oh, God,” he moaned. “Not that.”

Phil bolted through the kitchen and out the back door, nearly colliding with Lisa hurrying back home, empty-handed.

“Tree-killer accepted my gift,” she announced, bright-eyed, face glowing. “In fact, he tore through the cellophane to grab a cookie as he kicked the door shut in my face. You know, Phil, I honestly believe that guy’s killing days are over.”

Matrushka Dolls

by Jan Marin Tramontano

My pregnant daughter sits at her desk, absent-mindedly stroking her belly curly dark hair frames the canvas for all her expressions.

I watch her remembering when I was a curly-haired girl with dreams, allowing the wind to toss me until she and I were one.

She inside of me, now he inside of her memory imprints from mother to mother. Mine on hers as hers with him.

Matrushka dolls one inside the other inside the other, the long line of us: mothers nesting within each other.

The strength of one passing to the next constant unbroken for eternity.

Without A Trace

by Ruben Colon

Ruth Long knelt and dug her hand under the clothing of the bottom dresser drawer to lift the garments out. These would be the last of Mary’s things-her sister now deceased. As her hand neared the center of the drawer, she heard the crumple of paper.

“Hmm.” She fished out a sealed, legal-size manila envelope. Ruth cocked an eyebrow.

In large type, the label read:

FOR MY SISTER RUTH – PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL.

“That’s strange,” Ruth murmured. Mary, her sister had never mentioned any letter and the lawyer said Ruth had received all documents and legal papers. “Oh well.”

From a scarred desk, she picked up a letter opener, slit the envelope open and drew out a sheaf of papers. Under a paper clip lay a dozen pages, typed and single spaced.

Her curiosity whetted, Ruth pulled out the desk chair, sat down and read. My Dearest Ruth,

If you’re reading this it’s because I’m dead. For the past several years, I’ve carried a dreadful secret and I want to lift the weight off my chest.

Do you remember that pond scum, Ryan Brockton? The man married to my sweet daughter Ellen? Well, when he died the doctor wrote on the death certificate: “Death by myocardial infarction (heart attack)”

That wasn’t the case, Ruth. I killed him.

“Oh my God! Oh my God!” Ruth clutched at the armrests of the chair and drew several deep breaths. The room swam before her eyes. Minutes passed. She staggered to the bathroom and swallowed a glassful of water. Finally, breathing normal, she went on.

I am not sorry, Ruth. For all intents and purposes, that slime ball killed my Ellen. Not by knife or gun, but by mental, physical, and verbal abuse. For too long, my daughter kept the abuse from that piece of garbage to herself

One day, while visiting Ellen, I inadvertently walked into the bedroom while she was undressing. Ellen immediately ran into the bathroom, but not before I saw the black and blue welts on her shoulders and thighs. She claimed she had fallen down the stairs. I knew better. I begged, pleaded with her to leave Ryan. My daughter refused and a few months later she was dead.

I flew back to New York as soon as I heard of her death. She died of an embolism, the hospital said. Ellen had had a heart murmur since childhood and that filthy rat, Ryan, exacerbated the condition.

At Ellen’s funeral, I met Ryan’s former squad-car partner, Alex Marino. We exchanged phone numbers and I made sure to keep in touch. He informed me of Ryan’s movements and whereabouts. Two years later, when Ryan took early retirement (because of alcoholism, Alex told me) from the NYPD and left for St. Augustine, Florida, I packed up and followed.

My plans firmly fixed in my mind by then, I landed a job with the medical examiner’s office as a cleaning lady. Can you imagine that, me, a graduate of Wellesley?

I used my maiden name, added gray to my hair to appear older then my fifty-five, wore frumpy clothes and had another photo ID made. It worked. They hired me.

After two months on the job and ingratiating myself with the ME (I brought him freshly ground coffee and pastries), and while on a coffee break, I jokingly asked him if such a possibility existed as the perfect murder. He laughed and leaned closer. “Why, you want to knock somebody off?”

“Well, there was this boy in fourth grade who dumped me,” I said.

continued on page 22

Ode to New Orleans

by Kara Moyer

An hour there, you swindle twenty bucks from me because I miss the shoe-shine joke and sticky liquor puddles stain my boots— a tricky welcome to Creole Dixie but I love you instantly, Big Easy, beg you, please, to levee me against myself tonight as I am drenched in January grays and diving deep in you to find reprieve— delirious from driving, futile angst that almost turned me back in Arkansas.

I want the fixins, all your grand parades. I fled to you instead of Mexico, or Rome, because you’re cheaper, closer, like the dive with dollar drafts and cigarette machines a block from home. No Pantheon or beach to burn my pasty soles, no passport stamps.

But cast your voodoo spells instead and charm me back to heedlessness. I’m out to swill the world—café au lait and sweet beignets when I am soused again at foggy dawn. Convince me I’m alone, at last, among this crowd. You are the lagniappe I have craved.

At three a.m. when rain begins again I find the balcony, champagne I swiped from home. The marching band in Jackson Square howls, howls through tarnished horns, down antique alley ways.

I peer between the parted drapes inside a flat across the street—its fleur de lis insignias above the doors, a chandelier too similar to one I hung at home—and scheme my grand escape. Salut to Expeditus, Saint of Prompt Solutions. Nola, you were made for me.

PHOTOGRAPHBY M AURICE N ARCIS

Without A Trace

continued from page 19

The ME laughed again. “Okay. Yes, I know a method, but don’t tell anyone because I’ll deny it. Besides, it’s almost impossible to succeed. You have to be at least two feet from the intended victim and they must not suspect anything. “

“Then what?” I asked.

“You use cyanide in vapor form. The victim must inhale it for three seconds. The cyanide dissolves in the bloodstream without a trace and the victim appears to have had a heart attack from natural causes. Of course, cyanide in that form is very difficult to produce and handle and most important, the killer must not inhale the vapor himself.”

I said, “But I’ve always read and heard cyanide smells of burnt almonds.”

He answered, “That’s true, but if used like I said, only a minute amount disperses in the air, and, unless someone else is in the room, the smell fades in seconds. Or the killer can remove the almond scent another way. “

“Which is ... ?”

“Ammonia. Like in cleaning solutions. It’ll mask the odor completely. Well, excuse me, I have another corpse to attend to.”

He left and I had my answer.

I hit the chemistry books and built a lab in my garage. In Florida, hordes of senior citizens indulge in hobbies from pottery to building planes in their garages, so I didn’t draw attention.

It took me a year of long hours, experimentation and many failures, but I did it. Next, I applied for a position with maintenance in the Sheriff’s office where Ryan worked as a deputy.

I passed the background check and he didn’t recognize me. I bided my time, learning the office routine and worked out in a gym to build upper body strength.

1 bought a male mannequin, sat it in a chair I had bolted to the garage floor, filled it with sand and hung weights from the limbs. I practiced manhandling the dummy every day, seven days a week

Because of his past health problems (drinking), Ryan had a desk job on the graveyard shift.

Finally, the night I had waited three years for came. Around two in the morning, as I routinely mopped and cleaned his office, I drew closer to him and greeted him like always with a cheery, “Good evening.” He grunted and shuffled papers.

I trundled my cart behind him and out of his line of sight. Hidden amongst my cleaning supplies lay my special mask, gauze, a spray bottle of cleaning ammonia, and cyanide inside a breakable glass vial. I circled around him, as if to clean like I had done night after night.

I slipped on my mask, held the gauze in my open palm, broke the vial inside, swung the gauze to the front and pressed it over his nose.

He jerked back, but I held him with all my accumulated hate and fury – I had practiced this hold on the mannequin a hundred times. I counted off four seconds, released him and placed his head on the desk.

I sprayed some ammonia around the desk, and,

by Ronnie Walter

Born smack in the middle of the baby boom, there was no shortage of neighborhood kids to babysit and my sisters and I were the go-to family for available child-wranglers. Between the seven of us there were usually 2 or 3 prospects on any given night — and unless there was a football game or dance at school, my Saturday night dates wore footy pajamas and drooled Cheerio juice down their fronts. I had a standing weekend gig with the three preschoolers next door while their parents went out for a few cocktails blessedly child free, at least for a few hours. Since my mother was in such close proximity, I could call on her to break up a toddler impasse or deal with a particularly disgusting diaper.

Even at fifty cents an hour I was able to pay for my own plaid mini-skirts, an after school hamburger with my friends at the local Red Barn and the occasional Temptations record.

However, I was looking for a way to increase my income as I was in need of a new bike. Too young to drive, I either walked to school, took a city bus or hitched a ride with the 5’3” 250 pound Algebra teacher who lived in our neighborhood. It was tight squeeze with Mr. Ekimoff in a Volkswagen Beetle, but it beat the heck out of being outside on a cold winter morning. While I tried to figure out how to up my income, an opportunity presented itself. Our neighbor Ron had started a little import business. For some reason, after he ended his tenure as a US Marine Recruiter, he started importing and selling Genuine Mexican Onyx Figurines. They were funny carvings of sleeping men in large sombreros, cacti, Nativity sets and an assortment of farm animals. And even though we had a pink lava lamp

within seconds I had hidden my gauze and vial in my mop pail beneath the dirty water, wheeled my cart to the front of the desk and removed my mask. I sniffed the air – no burnt almonds – only a slight antiseptic smell of cleaning ammonia. I went to the door and called out to the deputy in the other office.

“I think Officer Ryan is asleep. I don’t want to disturb him, but I wanted to get the trash from under his desk. “

The deputy entered, shook Ryan, took his pulse, checked for a heartbeat, then grabbed the phone to call for an ambulance. The paramedics tried CPR, oxygen and all the rest. At the hospital, the doctor pronounced him dead of a heart attack. Also, no autopsy. Due to the expense, autopsies are not performed on heart attack victims unless foul play is suspected or the family insists on one and is willing to pay for the procedure.

They asked me a couple of routine questions and I continued working for another month, finally quit. And you know something? After Ryan’s death, not one person in the sheriff’s office said anything nice about him. He became a nonentity.

Ruth, I have avenged the untimely death of my beloved daughter Ellen. Please forgive me. If you wish to report this to the police, I have enclosed all the details on the other pages. I now go to face God and explain what I’ve done.

Love,

Your sister, Mary.

The Summer Shill

displayed prominently in our living room, even I thought those figurines were pretty tacky. He decided to debut the collection at the Crawford County Fair in Meadville Pennsylvania, 30 miles south of where we lived. The Crawford County Fair would be unremarkable as far as county fairs go — if it weren’t for the fact that Miss Crawford County 1975 was none other than actress Sharon Stone. She promptly left town, as Meadville was not the kind of place that would embrace actresses who might abandon their panties for a movie role.

Our neighbor asked my parents if I could work for him full time that week, to help with sales and the inevitable crowd control that would be needed when Genuine Mexican Onyx Figurines were introduced to the citizens of Northwest Pennsylvania. I would be paid my normal fifty cents an hour, but with the extended hours of the fair, I was just a week away from a shiny new bicycle in our garage. Of course my parents said yes and my new career as a carnie was launched.

We set up in the cavernous Merchandise Mart, just the place to purchase replacement storm windows, a Vegi-Matic or a Mood Ring to impress your date. The Genuine Mexican Onyx Figurine stall was right next to the most marvelous of them all, The Handwriting Analysis Machine — as seen at the New York World’s Fair! OK, that was 8 years prior to this event, but still impressive!

We unloaded the hundreds of figurines, arranging them into adorable little tableau of Mexican stereotypes. Ron started up a conversation with the lady who owned the Handwriting Analysis machine, a woman who traveled from town to town analyzing the handwriting of fair goers across the land.

And what a woman she was. Hovering around her mid-seventies with dozens of bangles stacked up each arm and earrings the size of teacups dangling beneath her bleach blonde beehive, Maggie was a vision in bright coral lipstick. She talked with a smoker’s rasp as she singlehandedly maneuvered the machine into her allotted space. In my t shirt, jeans and scuffed Keds I was in awe of this psychedelic senior citizen; in all of my 14 years I had never met anyone quite like Maggie.

After the opening day of the fair it was pretty clear that Genuine Mexican Onyx Figurines were not the hot ticket to fame and fortune that my neighbor had anticipated. But as fate would have it, Maggie’s assistant had skipped out after the last fair. I noticed Maggie whispering to Ron while he slowly nodded his head and the next thing I knew I had been promoted to Handwriting Analysis Assistant! I moved one stall over, stepped up to the platform of The Machine and began my rise up the carnival ladder.

Now, I don’t know how this machine actually worked, but here’s what I think. I know it was an old IBM card sorter. You know those “IBM cards”? Manila cards with (what seemed to me random) holes punched, that the machine would read and then somehow it spit out data? That kind of machine. The customer would sign a blank version of the card, hand it over to Maggie (along with their $1.50) and with a dramatic flourish, she would hand the card up to me. I would place their signed card on a pile of other IBM cards, place the stack into the machine and push a big red button. Bells would ring, sirens screamed and lights flashed as the

cards landed randomly into separate slots making a satisfying clack as they found their position.

Hidden from the customer’s view were stacks of preprinted “handwriting analysis” cards categorized by gender, age and personality. Each category had multiple cards, repeating every 5 or so. They said things like, “You are very persistent in working toward your goals” and “Other people like to be around you” or “your creative flair will take you far” Even at my tender age, I was amazed at how thrilled the customers were when they read their report. “Wow! That’s just like me!” “Oh my gosh--it’s so true!” Over and over I heard the same response, and I kept thinking: They bought it? Seriously? You really think this cheesy machine is reading your handwriting and analyzing your personality? Well, ok, then…let’s go people!

By day two I was completely hooked. Maggie was amazing as she worked the crowd, bringing people closer to our booth and charming everyone along the way. During slow times I loved talking to her, as she told tales of being on the road, her gravelly voice captivating this shy awkward ninth grader. She was engaging, funny and different than anyone I had ever met. Each night I would go home and regale my parents with stories of the fair as they exchanged horrified glances over my head. I’m sure they thought I was ready to chuck it all and go on the road with Maggie, and if it weren’t for tenth grade staring me in the face, they may have been right.

Occasionally we would have a skeptic in the crowd, someone who couldn’t quite believe that this machine could actually reveal their personality. Remember that the preprinted “fortunes” repeated every five cards, and there were at least 10 categories. Eventually I made sure to get a good look at the person and then look at the card before I handed it to Maggie. So when the cynic laid down their additional $1.50, I got pretty good at handing them back the exact card I had given them before. I mean, who would suspect that this nerdy teenager with frizzy hair and wire rimmed glasses would be a carnival shark? By the close of the fair, I had ever so slowly come out of my shell, and straight into a shell game.

The fair ended and I helped Maggie close down the machine and Ron and I packed up many boxes of unsold Genuine Mexican Onyx Figurines. With tears in our eyes, Maggie and I hugged goodbye. She hitched the Handwriting Analysis Machine to the back of her 1967 Pontiac Catalina station wagon and drove off into the night.

I bought my new bike--a lime green three speed cruiser from Sears. School started soon after and I dodged the inevitable question “So what did you do this summer?” with a vague “Oh, you know, this and that, a little babysitting, a few odd jobs.”

Looking back, I realized that I liked the feeling I got when a customer’s eyes lit up with the idea that maybe, just maybe their handwriting revealed the secrets of who they aspired to be. I was torn between enjoying the rush they got from the experience and my own rush of being the one who delivered it. But mostly I was given a glimpse into a world where a woman in gold stretch pants could write her own destiny, all from behind the wheel of an avocado green station wagon.

The Gulf Coast Writers Association meets 10am-12pm on the third Saturday of each month at the Zion Lutheran Church, located at 7401 Winkler Road in Fort Myers. Call 247-4515 for information. The complete list of Gulf Coast Writers Association 2014 Writing Contest Winners can be found at www.gulfwriters.org

My brother Eric Elias

passed on Friday, May 23, 2014, of natural causes. Eric was an extraordinary painter and collagist, outstanding graphic designer, and superb illustrator for F T.M YERSMAGAZINE , as well as an unparalleled chromist, collaborating on fine art prints with artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Julian Schnabel, Red Grooms, Nam June Paik, Paula Scher, John Chamberlain, Peter Halley, Donald Sultan, and musician Dave Matthews. An incomplete retrospective of his illustrations for F T.M YERSMAGAZINE , of both local artists and art patrons as well as international stars and celebrities, are featured on this and the next few pages.

A NDREW E LIAS

Dr. John & Frances Fenning — JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2011

Berne Davis — MAY-JUNE 2007

Will Prather — JULY-AUGUST 2005

Andrea Marcovicci — JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2011

Bonnie Raitt — NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2005

Thomas Edison — JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2003

Lou Piniella — SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2003

Harry Connick, Jr. — NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013

Chris Isaak — SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008

Michael Hall — NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2007

Tony Bennett — NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2006

Chris Isaak. — MARCH-APRIL 2002

Hank Williams III — SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2002

Jerry Seinfeld — NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012

Smokey Robinson — JULY-AUGUST 2006

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

July 3 THURSDAY

•The Little Mermaid: Broadway Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. Lunch noon, show 1p. 278-4422.

4 FRIDAY

•Art Reception: Arts for ACT Gallery, 2265 1st St, Ft Myers, 6-10p. Free. 337-5050.

•Art Reception: Unit A, 1922 Evans Ave, Ft Myers. 6-9p. Free. 3406467.

•Freedom Fest: Street party, art show, art demos, live music on 5 stages, fireworks. Centennial Park & downtown Ft Myers historic River District. 511p, fireworks 9:30p.

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Charlotte Stone Crabs: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile CypressPkwy, Ft Myers. 7p. 768-4210.

•Painting Performance: Painting with Leoma Lovegrove to promote Pride & Patriotism. Franklin Shops, 2200 1st St, Ft Myers. 3-9p.

•Art Walk: Receptions, exhibits, demos, live music at several galleries & studios.Downtown Ft Myers’ historic River District. 6-10p. Free. 855732-3836.

JULY

AUGUST

whatGoeson

5

SATURDAY

•Florida Tarpons vs Miami Inferno: Indoor football. Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero.494-4452.

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Charlotte Stone Crabs: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile CypressPkwy, Ft Myers. 6p. 768-4210.

•Naples Jazzmasters: Dixieland concert. Norris Center, 755 8th Ave S, Naples. 1-3p. Free. 2133058.

•The Little Mermaid: Broadway Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. Lunchnoon, show 1p. 278-4422.

6

SUNDAY

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Charlotte Stone Crabs: Hammond Stadium,

14400 Six Mile CypressPkwy, Ft Myers. 4p. 768-4210.

8 TUESDAY

•A Midsummer Night’s Sing: Benefit concert, special guests.First Presbyterian Church,2438 2nd St, Ft Myers. 7p. Free.3342261.

•Independent Film Screening: Presented by Naples Film Festival. Silverspot Cinema at Mercato, 9118 Strada Pl, Naples. 6:30p.775-3456.

•Art Reception: Harbour View Gallery, 5789 Cape Harbour Dr, #104, Cape Coral. 6-8p. Free. 5405789.

9 WEDNESDAY

•Summer Sunset Shelling: With Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum marine naturalist, Sanibel Lighthouse, Sanibel. 6p. 395-2233.

•The Little Mermaid: Broadway Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. Lunchnoon, show 1p. 278-4422.

10 THURSDAY

•Lecture: Robert Cacioppo, founder & producing artistic director of Florida Rep. SWFLMuseum of History, 2031 Jackson St, Ft Myers. SWFL Historical Society

meeting, 6:30p. Free. 939-4044.

•Marc Vee Quartet: Concert. Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 7p. 4958989.

11 FRIDAY

•Art Reception: Art Council of SWFL Co-Op Gallery, Coconut Point Mall, 8074Mediterranean Dr, Estero. 5-7p. Free. 267-3049.

•Art Reception: Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs, 26100 Old US 41 Rd, Bonita Springs.6-8p. Free. 495-8989.

•Art Walk: Receptions, exhibits, demos, live music at several galleries & studios.Downtown Ft Myers’ historic River District. 6-10p. Free. 855732-3836.

•Film Screening: WGCU’s ‘Pink Gold Rush.’ Foulds Theatre, Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 7:30p. Free. 939-2787.

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Dunedin Blue Jays: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy,Ft Myers. 7p. 768-4210.

•Manatees: Interactive program. ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 2p. Free. 4721100.

•The Little Mermaid: Broadway Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. Lunchnoon, show 1p. 278-4422.

12 SATURDAY

•Auditions: For ‘Noises Off.’ The Naples Players. Sugden Community Theatre, 701 5th Ave S, Naples. 2p No appt needed. 434-7340.

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Dunedin Blue Jays: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy,Ft Myers. 6p. 768-4210.

•Gallery Walk: Majestic Places / Majestic Faces.Alliance for the Arts, 10091McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 10a. Free. 939-2787.

•Naples Jazzmasters: Dixieland concert. Norris Center, 755 8th Ave S, Naples. 1-3p. Free. 2133058.

•Summer Sunset Shelling: With Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum marine naturalist, SanibelLighthouse, Sanibel. 7p. 395-2233.

13 SUNDAY

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Dunedin Blue Jays: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy,Ft Myers. 4p. 768-4210.

•The Little Mermaid: Broadway Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. Lunchnoon, show 1p. 278-4422.

14

MONDAY

•Film: NOVA - Why Sharks Attack. ‘Ding’

Darling Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 2p. Free. 472-1100.

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Dunedin Blue Jays: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy,Ft Myers. 7p. 7684210.

15 TUESDAY

•The Little Mermaid: Broadway Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. Lunchnoon, show 1p. 278-4422.

18 FRIDAY

•Music Walk: Live music & dancing at several cafes, clubs & galleries. Downtown Ft Myers’historic River District. 6-10p. Free. 855732-3836.

•The Little Mermaid: Broadway Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. Lunchnoon, show 1p. 278-4422.

19

SATURDAY

•Gulf Coast Writers Association Meeting: Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Rd, FtMyers. 10a-12p. Free. 247-4515.

•MangoMania Tropical Fruit Festival: Food, crafts, contests, demos, tastings, live entertainment, kids activities. GermanAmerican Social Club,

The Naples Art Association presents ‘Camera USA: National Photography Exhibition’ at The von Liebig Art Center in Naples, August 11 – September 26. Call 262-6517 for information.

what Goes on

•Sharks: Interactive program. ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. 2p. Free. 4721100.

16

SATURDAY

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Palm Beach Cardinals: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile CypressPkwy, Ft Myers. 6p. 768-4210.

•Gulf Coast Writers Association Meeting: Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Rd, FtMyers. 10a-12p. Free. 247-4515.

•Naples Jazzmasters: Dixieland concert. Norris Center, 755 8th Ave S, Naples. 1-3p. Free.2133058.

•Pocket Change: Summer Jazz on the Gulf free outdoor concert.Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N, Naples. 6:30-9:30p.2612222.

• Gulf Coast Writers Association Meeting: Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Rd, FtMyers. 10a-12p. Free. 247-4515.

17

SUNDAY

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Palm Beach Cardinals: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile CypressPkwy, Ft Myers. 4p. 768-4210.

18

MONDAY

•Independent Film Screening: Ft Myers Film Festival screening & discussion. Davis Art Center,2301 First St, Ft Myers. Happy hour

6:30p, film 7p. 8106323.

• M u s i c W a l k : Live music & dancing at several cafes, clubs & galleries. Downtown FtMyers’ historic River District. 6-10p. Free. 855-7323836.

23

naturalist, SanibelLighthouse, Sanibel. 7p. 395-2233.

25

MONDAY

•Independent Film Screening: Ft Myers Film Festival screening & discussion. Davis Art Center,2301 First St, Ft Myers. Happy hour 6:30p, film 7p. 8106323.

27

WEDNESDAY

•Improv Tonight!: Comedy show. Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd,Bonita Springs. 7p. 495-8989.

28 THURSDAY

•Ft Myers Miracle vs Jupiter Hammerheads: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile CypressPkwy, Ft Myers. 7p. 768-4210.

•Mudbone: Concert. Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd,Bonita Springs. 7p. 495-8989.

29 FRIDAY

•Art Reception: Cape Coral Arts Studio, 4553 Coronado Pkwy, Cape Coral. 6-9p. Free. 5740802.

•Ft Myers Miracle vs

Jupiter Hammerheads: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile CypressPkwy, Ft Myers. 7p. 768-4210.

30 SATURDAY

•Naples Jazzmasters: Dixieland concert. Norris Center, 755 8th Ave S, Naples. 1-3p. Free.2133058.

31 SUNDAY

•Summer Sundays: Art reception & free art raffle. Refreshments. KathleenBradford Studio/Gallery, 4259 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. 1-4p. Free. 776-6844.

ongoing theater

•Aladdin: Fri & Sat Jul 17

- Aug 9. Broadway Palm Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•Boeing, Boeing: Jul 10Aug 9. Off Broadway Palm Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•Cabaret: Jul 31 - Aug 10. Venice Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave, Venice. 941488-1115.

•Cabaret Festival: Jul 18Aug 24. Venice Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave, Venice. 941-488-1115.

•Gypsy: Thru Jul 27. The Naples Players. Sugden Theater, 701 5th Ave S, Naples. 263-7990.

•Jersey Girls: Jul 25 - Aug 3. Cultural Park Theatre, 528 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral. 772-5862.

•Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Thru Aug 16.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 2784422.

•Perfect Parenting: Aug 22-31. Cultural Park Theatre, 528 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral. 772-5862.

•Royal Palm Noir: Thru Sep 27.Seminole Gulf Railway Murder Mystery Dinner Train,2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 275-8487.

•Summer Circus Spectacular: Circus Sarasota. The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota.Tue-Fri 11am & 2pm, Sat 2 & 5p.941359-5700.

•The Fourposter: Jul 1120. Cultural Park Theatre, 528 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral. 772-5862.

•The Little Mermaid: Fri & Sat Jul 3 - Aug 2.

Broadway Palm

Children’s Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

Murder Mystery Dinner Train,2805 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 2758487.

THEATERS

•Broadway Palm Dinner

Theatre: Joseph & The AmazingTechnicolor

Dreamcoat: Thru Aug 16; Those Were the Days: 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•Broadway Palm

Children’s Theatre: The Little Mermaid: Jul 3Aug 2. 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 2784422.

•Cultural Park

Theater: The Fourposter: Jul 11-20; Jersey Girls: Jul 25-Aug 3; Ray Livosi: Aug 15-17; Perfect Parenting: Aug 22-31. 528 Cultural Park Blvd,Cape Coral. 7725862.

•Naples Players: Gypsy: thru Jul 27. Sugden Theater, 701 5th Ave S, Naples. 263-7990.

•Off Broadway Palm Theater: Boeing, Boeing: Jul 10 - Aug 9; Better Late. 1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers. 278-4422.

•Venice Theatre: Cabaret Festival: Jul 18 - Aug 24; Cabaret: Jul 31 - Aug 10. 140 W. Tampa Ave, Venice. 941-488-1115.

exhibitions

•Alliance for the Arts: 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. AllFlorida exhibit. Jul 1131:Majestic Places / Majestic Faces.Aug 8-29: Diametrically Opposedmembers exhibit. 9392787.

•Art Council of Southwest Florida Co-Op Gallery: Coconut Point Mall, 8074 Mediterranean Dr, Estero. Tue-Thu & Sat 10a-6p, Fri 11a-7p, Sun 12-5p. Free. 267-3049.

•Art Gallery Old Naples 2: Crayton Cove, 1187 8th St S, Naples. 560-9569.

SATURDAY

•Naples Jazzmasters: Dixieland concert. Norris Center, 755 8th Ave S, Naples. 1-3p. Free.2133058.

•Summer Sunset Shelling: With Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum marine

•The Morning After the Night Before the Wedding: Aug 15-30. Theatre Conspiracy. Foulds Theater, Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. 936-3239.

•Train of Deception: Sun, Wed & Thu thru Nov 27.

Seminole Gulf Railway

•Art League of Fort Myers: 1451 Monroe St, Ft Myers. Mon-Fri, 11a-3p & 6-9p 1st Fri of month. 2753970.

•Arts For ACT Gallery: 2265 First St, Ft Myers. Jul 4-28: Group show; Aug: Joe LeMay.Mon-Sat 11a-4:30p, 1st & 3rd Fri 11a-10p. Call for Sat hrs. Free. 337-5050.

•Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery: 4332 Pine Island Rd,

Lee County’s Northwest Regional Library in Cape Coral presents the exhibition, ‘Beaches, Creatures and Cowboys: Florida Movie Posters.’ August 6-30. Call

for information.

Matlacha. Sun & Mon

10a-5p, Tue-Sat 10a-7p. Free. 283-1335.

•BIG ARTS: Barrier Island Group for the Arts, 900 Dunlop Rd, Sanibel. MonSat 1-4p. 395-0900.

•BIG ARTS on Periwinkle Gallery: 2244Periwinkle Rd, Sanibel. Mon-Fri, 9a4p. 472-9700.

•Bob Rauschenberg

Gallery: Edison State College, 8099 College Pkwy SW, Ft Myers.

Thru Jul 25: Eleven -

The John Erickson

Museum of Art 10-Year

Retrospective. Mon-Fri

10a-4p & Sat 11a-3p. Free. 489-9313.

•Cape Coral Art League:

516 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral. Mon-Fri 1-4p. 772-5657.

•Cape Coral Arts Studio: 4533 Coronado Pkwy in Rubicond Park, Cape Coral. Aug 29 - Sep 25: Aquarium 2014. Mon-Thu 9a-9p, Fri & Sat 9a-4p. 574-0802.

•Cape Coral Library: 921

39th Terrace & SW 9th Ct, Cape Coral. Aug 1Oct 31: Kyra Belan. 9a-5p. Free. 481-2081.

•Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs: 26100 Old 41 Rd, BonitaSprings. Jul 11-24: Moments; Aug 1-28: Beauty.Mon-Fri

10a-4p & Sat 1-5p. 4958989.

•Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery: 52388 Tamiami Tr, Ochopee. Daily 10a-5p. 695-2428.

•Clyde Butcher’s Venice Gallery & Studio : 237 Warfield Ave, Venice. Tue-Fri 10a-4p. 4860811.

•Collier County Museum: 3301 Tamiami Tr E, Naples. Theodor de Bry’s Engravings of the Timucua: Jul-Nov. MonFri 9a-5p. 774-8476.

•Davis Arts Center: 2301 First St, Ft Myers. Unlimited - The Artistry of People with Disabilities: Jul 4-25; Punta Artisans: Aug 1-29.Mon-Fri10a-5p & 6-9p 1st Fri of month. 337-1933.

•Fort Myers Beach Art Association: Donora &

Shell Mound, Ft Myers Beach. Summer: Members shows. Mon-Sat 9a-12p & Sun 12-3p. 4633909.

•Gallerie du Soleil: 393 Broad Ave S, Naples. Mon-Sat, 10a-6p & Sun 12-5p. 417-3450.

•Gallery on Fifth: Mercato, 5130 Strada Pl, Naples. Thru Feb

2:Rescued from the Flames - Soviet-era Socialist Realism Paintings. Mon-Sat, 10a6p & Sun 12-5p. 2207503.

•Gallo Gallery of Art: 5670 Shirley St, Naples. Daily 10a-4p.565-0456.

•Gardner Colby Gallery: 386 & 365 Broad Ave S, Naples. Mon-Sat 10a5:30p & Sun 12-5p. 4037787.

•Grand Illusion Gallery: 2443 First St, Ft Myers. Mon & Fri 10a-4p, Tue-Thu 9a-5p, Sat 10a2p, 1st Fri of month 10a9p. 461-7245.

•Guess-Fisher GalleryNestled in the Cove: 1187 8th St S, Naples. MonThu 12-5p, Fr & Sat 12-9p,

Sun 1-5p during high season. 263-3417.

•Harbour View Gallery: 5789 Cape Harbour Dr, #104, Cape Coral. Jul: Blanchard Stell, Marc Geldon.Daily 11a-8p. 540-5789.

•Hirdie-Girdie Art Gallery: 2490 Library Way, Sanibel. Mon-Sat 11a-5p Open Nov-Apr. 395-0027.

•Howl Gallery / Tattoo: 4164 Cleveland Ave, Ft. Myers.Jul: SWFL Lives. Aug: Daniel BrownHighbrow Automotive Paintings. Mon-Thu 11a-8p, Fri & Sat 12-10p,6-9p 1st Fri of month.332-0161.

•HW Gallery: 1305 Third St S, Naples. Daily 10a5p. 263-6640.

•Immokalee Pioneer Museum: 1215 Roberts Ave, Immokalee. Thru Aug 29: Images of Immokalee. Mon-Fri 9a5p. 658-2466.

•Island Visions: 4643 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. Daily10a-5p. 282-0452.

•Jo-Ann Sanborn Sunshine Studios: 760 N Collier Blvd, #102, Marco Island. Wed-Sat 11a-5p,

The Naples Players present ‘Gypsy,’ thru July 27 at the Sugden Community Theatre in downtown Naples. For information, call 263-7990

what Goes on JULY–AUGUST

Thu & Fri also 7-9p. 6426367.

•Kathleen Bradford

Studio/Gallery: 4259 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. Summer

Sundays: Jul 27, Aug 31.

Oct-May Tue-Sat 11a-5p & Jun-Sep by chance or appt. 776-6844.

•Lovegrove Gallery & Garden: 4637 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha. Matlacha

historic walking tours: Tue & Fri, 9a. 283-6453.

•Marco Island Center for the Arts: 1010 Winterberry Dr, Marco Island. Tue-Fri 9a-4p. 394-4221.

•Marco Island Historical

Museum: 180 S Heathwood Dr, Marco Island. Tue-Sat 9a-4p. 642-1440.

•Marianne Friedland

Gallery: 359 Broad Ave S, Naples. Mon-Sat 10-5p. 262-3484.

•Museum of the Everglades: 105 W Bwy, Everglades City.

Thru Aug 31: The Art of Everglades City. Tue-Fri 9a-5p & Sat 9a-4p. 6950008.

•Naples Depot

Museum: 1051 Fifth Ave

S, Naples.Mon-Fri 9a-5p & Sat 9a-4p. 262-6525.

•Nora Butler

Designs:Crayton Cove, 800 12th Ave. S, Naples. Tue-Sat 11a-6p. 4038287.

•Northwest Regional Library: 519 Chiquita Blvd N, Cape Coral. Aug

6-30: Beaches, Creatures and Cowboys - Florida

Movie Posters. Mon, Wed, Thu 10a-6p; Tue 12-8p; Fri & Sat 9a-5p. 5334803.

•Phil Fisher Gallery: 810 12th Ave S, Naples. MonThu 11a-5p, Fri & Sat 11a9p. 403-8393.

• P h y s i c i a n s Regional

H e a l t h c a r e S y s t e m : 6101 Pine Ridge Rd., 2nd fl atrium, Naples. Mon-Fri, 6a-8p & Sun 9a-8p.

Dogs I’ve NosedPhotography by Jeck

Kenner: thru Jul 22. Free. 262-6517.

•Ringling Museum of Art: 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. Thru Jul 13: In the Streets -

Photographing Urban

Spaces; May 23 - Aug

3:Intent to Deceive: Fakes & Forgeries in the Art

World;thru Sep 3: Beth

Lipman - Precarious Possessions; Jul 11 - Oct

26:Thomas Chimes from the Permanent Collection;

Jul 25 - Dec 7:Danny

Lyon: the Bikeriders; Aug 15 - Feb 28: Seeing the Unseen.Ongoing: New Acquisitions, 20th CenturyAbstract Art, Asian & Cypriot Art. Gardens of Ringling

Guided Tour: Thu 10:30a.Daily 10a-5p, Thu 10a-8p. 941-359-5700.

• R o o k e r y B a y E n v i r o n m e n t a l L e a r n i n g Center: 300 Tower Rd, Naples.Daily programs: 11a & 2p. Guided kayak trips Tue & Th 10a & 1p. Mon-Fri 9a-4p. 4176310.

•Rosen Gallery & Studios: North Line Plaza, 2172 J & C Blvd, N Naples. Daily tours of artist’s studiosReserve. Mon-Sat, 12-6p. 821-1061.

•Selby Gallery: Ringling College of Art + Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Tr, Sarasota. 941-359-7563.

•Sheldon Fine Art: 460 Fifth Ave S, Naples. 10a10p. 649-6255.

•SWFL Communiity

Foundation: 8771 CollegePkwy, bldg 2, # 201, Ft Myers. Mon-Fri 8a-5p. 274-5900.

•SWFL Museum of History: 2031 Jackson St, FtMyers.Thru Sep

6:Enchantments - The Photographic Adventures of Julian Dimock & Clyde Butcher.Tue-Sat 10a-5p. 321-7430.

•Space 39 Art Bar & Lounge: 39 Patio de Leon, Ft Myers. Mon-Wed 4p12a, Thu-Sun 4p-2a& 69p 1st Fri of month. 6900004.

•Sweet Art Gallery: 2054 Trade Center Way, Naples. Jul: Lynda Fay Braun. Mon-Fri 10a-5p & Sat by appt. Free. 597-2110.

•The Artists’ Gallery: The Esplanade, 760 Collier Blvd, Marco Island.Winter:Mon-Wed 10a-5p, Thu & Fri 10a8p,Sat 10a-4p, Sun 10a2p.784-4436.

• T h e B a k e r

M u s e u m : Artis-Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Nap les. Thru Jul 6:

Sculpture Artist in Residence – Lothar Nickel; thru Jul 6: Mu seum to Scale; thru Jul 6: The Coast & The Sea -Marine and Maritime Art in America. Tue-Sat 10a4p & Sun 12-4p. 5971900.

•The Lady from Haiti: 110 tenth St N, Naples. MonSat 10:30a-5p. 649-8607.

•The von Liebig Art Center: 585 Park St, Naples.Thru Jul 25: Founders Awards Exhibition; Jun 9 - Aug 8: ARTScool 2014; Aug 1026:ARTScool Student Exhibition; Aug 11 - Sep 26: Camera USA - Nat’l Photo Exhibit, Pictures in Process - Members Photo Exhibit.Mon-Sat 10a-4p. 262-6517.

•Tincture Gallery: 1412 Dean St, #100, Ft Myers. Daily 10a-9p. 472-4557.

•Tower Gallery: 751 Tarpon Bay Rd, Sanibel. Tue-Sat 10a-5p. 3406467.

•Trudy Labell Fine Art: Bingham Galleria,2425 Tamiami Trail N, #102,Naples. Mon-Fri 11a-4p & Sat 11a-2p.4347778.

•Union Artists Studios : Alliance of the Arts campus, 10051 McGregor Blvd, #202, Edwards Bldg, Ft Myers. 8263861.

•Unit A Art Space: 1922 Evans Ave, Ft Myers. Art by Marcus Jansen. MonFri 10a-3p. Receptions first Fri of month 6-10p. 849-7772.

•Vallez Studio: Crayton Cove, 784 12th Ave S, Naples. 262-0381.

•Veron Ennis Modern Art:

275-3435.

•Cape Coral Historical Museum: 544 Cultural Park Blvd, Cape Coral. Wed, Thu & Sun 1-4p. 772-7037.

•Children’s Museum of Naples: North Collier Park, 15080 Livingston Rd, Naples. Special hours for children on autistic spectrum: Breaking the Barriers, 2nd Sat of month 8 - 9a & Sensory Night, 4th Tue of month 5-8p. Register. 514-0084.

•Collier County Museum: 3301 Tamiami Tr E, Naples. Jul-Nov: Theodor de Bry’s Engravings of the Timucua. Educational programs, Wed, 2pm. Mon-Fri, 9a-5p. 7748476.

•Conservancy of SWFL: 1495 Smith Preserve Way off Goodlette Frank Rd. 9:30a-4:30p. 430-2466.

•Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: 375 Sanctuary Rd W, Naples. Blair

Audubon Center, Boardwalk Exploration & Exhibits. Daily 7a-5:30p. 348-9151.

SWFL: Sandalwood Square, 4760 Tamiami Tr N, Naples. Tue-Sun 1-4p May-Dec. Guided Tours: 1:30p. 263-9200.

•Imaginarium Science Center: 2000 Cranford St, Ft Myers. Family Friday Nites: every Friday open til 8p. Mon-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 12-5p. 321-7420.

• Immokalee Pioneer Museum: 1215 Roberts Ave, Immokalee. Thru Aug 29: Images of Immokalee. Mon-Fri 9a5p. 658-2466.

•Marco Island Historical Museum: 180 S Heathwood Dr, Marco Island. Tue-Sat 9a-4p. 642-1440.

•Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota. Eco-boat tours daily. Immersion Cinema. Daily, 10a-5p. 941-3884441.

•Museum of the Everglades: 105 W Bwy, Everglades City. Thru Aug 31: The Art of Everglades City. Tue-Fri 9a-5p & Sat 9a-4p. 6950008.

10051 McGregor Blvd, # 201, Ft Myers. Mon-Sat 9a-1p& 6-9p 1st Fri of month.. 849-7772.

•Visual Arts Center: 210 Maud St, Punta Gorda. Mon-Fri, 9a-4p & Sat 10a2p. 951-639-8810.

•Watson MacRae Gallery: 2340 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Mon-Sat 10:30a5p. 472-3386.

attractions

•Babcock Wilderness Adventures: 8000 State Rd 31,Punta Gorda. TueSat. Reserve for tours. 800-500-5583.

•Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum: 3075 SanibelCaptiva Rd, Sanibel. Raymond Burr Memorial Exhibit,Deep-Sea Mollusks, Henry DomkeNature Photographer. World Record-Sized Shells. Open Daily 10a-5p. 395-2233.

•Burroughs Home & Gardens: 2505 First St, Ft Myers. Living history tours daily 11a & 1p, 5-9p. 337-0706.

•Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium: 3450 Ortiz Ave, Ft Myers. Live animal shows daily, Planetarium shows, WedSat, 9a-5p & Sun, 11a-5p.

•CREW: Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed, 23998 Corkscrew Rd, Estero. Guided walks 11:45a 1st & 3rd Tue & 1st Sat. Marsh Hiking Trails - 4600 Corkscrew Rd, Immokalee; Cypress Dome Trails - 3980 Corkscrew Rd, Immokalee; Bird Rookery Swamp Trails - 1295 Shady Hollow Rd, Naples. Trails open sunrisesunset. 657-2253.

•CROW: Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Rd, Sanibel. Healing Winds Visitor Education Center. Wonders of Wildlife: Nature presentations

Mon-Fri 11a. Tue-Sun 10a4p. 472-3644.

•’Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge: 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel. Thru Aug 2: Sea Monsters exhibit.SatThu 7a-7p. Education

Center: May-Dec 9a-4p, Jan-Apr 9a-5p.472-1100.

•Edison & Ford Winter

Estates Museum: 2350 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers. Daily 9a-5:30p. 334-7419.

•Everglades Wonder Gardens: Botanical gardens, animals, art gallery. 27180 Old 41 Rd, BonitaSprings. Daily 9a5p. 992-2591.

•Holocaust Museum & Education Center of

•Museum of the Islands: 5728 Sesame, Pine Island Center. 283-1525.

•Naples Botanical Garden: 4820 Bayshore Dr, Naples. Closed for construction of new visitor center until Oct 22.643-7275.

•Naples Depot Museum: 1051 Fifth Ave S, Naples. Mon-Fri 9a-5p & Sat 9a4p. 262-6525.

• N a p l e s Z o o a t C a r i b b e a n Gardens: 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd, Naples. Daily 9a-5p. 262-5409.

•Palm Cottage Museum & Norris Gardens: Naples Historical Society, 137 12th Ave. S, Naples. Walking tours of Naples Historic District: Wed 10a; Guided garden tours: Thu 10a. Reserve tours. TueSat 1-4p. 261-8164.

•Ringling Museum of Art: 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota.Thru Jul 13: In the StreetsPhotographing Urban Spaces; thru Aug 3:Intent to Deceive: Fakes & Forgeries in the Art World;thru Sep 3: Beth Lipman - Precarious Possessions; Jul 11 - Oct 26:Thomas Chimes from the Permanent Collection; Jul 25 - Dec 7:Danny

Lyon: the Bikeriders; Aug 15 - Feb 28: Seeing the

The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota hosts the exhibition, ‘In the Streets: Photographing Urban Spaces,’ thru July 13. For information, call 941-359-5700.

what Goes on

Unseen.Ongoing: New Acquisitions, 20th CenturyAbstract Art, Asian & Cypriot Art. Gardens of Ringling

Guided Tour: Thu 10:30a.Daily 10a-5p, Thu 10a-8p. 941-359-5700.

•Rookery Bay

Environmental Learning Center: 300 Tower Rd, Naples.Thru Sep 29:

Wonders of the Beach & Bay - Linda Soderquist watercolors.Daily programs: 11a & 2p.

Guided kayak trips Tue & Th 10a & 1p. Mon-Fri 9a4p. 417-6310.

•Sanibel Historical

Museum & Village: 950 Dunlop Rd, Sanibel. WedSat, 10a-4p. 472-4648.

•Seminole Gulf Railway: Colonial Station, Colonial Blvd & Metro Pkwy.

Murder Mystery Dinner Train: Wed-Sun Eves. 275-8487.

•Shell Factory & Nature Park: 2787 N Tamiami Trail, N Ft Myers. Daily 10a-5p. 995-2141.

•SWFL Historical Society: 10091 McGregor Blvd, FtMyers. Wed 9a12p & 4-7p, Sat 9a-12p. Free. 939-4044.

•SWFL Museum of History: 2031 Jackson St, FtMyers.Thru Sep

6:Enchantments - The Photographic Adventures of Julian Dimock & Clyde Butcher.Tue-Sat 10a-5p. 321-7430.

• T h e B a k e r M u

: Artis-Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Nap les. Thru Jul 6: Sculpture Artist in Residence – Lothar Nickel; thru Jul 6: Mu seum to Scale; thru Jul 6: The Coast & The Sea -Marine and Maritime Art in America. Tue-Sat 10a4p & Sun 12-4p. 5971900.

•The Butterfly Estates: 1815 Fowler St, Ft Myers. Sun & Tue-Th 10a-5p, Sat 10a-7p. 690-2359.

parks

•Bonita Beach Park: 27954 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs. 533-7444.

•Bowditch Point Regional Park: 50 Estero Blvd, Ft Myers Beach. 463-3764.

•Bunche Beach: 18201 John Morris Rd, Ft Myers. 707-6794.

•Caloosahatchee Regional Park: 18500 North River Rd, Alva. 693-2690.

•Collier-Seminole State

Park: US 41 (Tamiami Trail), S Naples. Guided walks: Sat 10a. Hiking trail, self-guided boardwalk nature trail, exhibits, camping, fishing, boating canoeing. 3943397.

•Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park: 11135 Gulfshore Dr, Naples. Beach, fishing, picnic areas. 597-6196.

•Estero Park: 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero. 248-1609.

•Everglades National Park: Gulf Coast Visitor Center,815 Oyster Bar Ln.Everglades City. 9a4:30p. 695-3311.

•Hickeys Creek Mitigation Park: 17980 Palm Beach Blvd, Alva. 693-2690.

•Koreshan State Historic Site State Park: US Hwy 41 & Corkscrew Rd, Estero. 992-0311.

•Lakes Regional Park: 7330 Gladiolus Dr, Ft Myers. Guided walks: 1st Sat 8:30a, garden tour: 2nd Sat. 533-7575.

•Lovers Key State Park: South of Ft Myers Beach. 463-4588.

•Lynn Hall Park: 950 Estero Blvd, Ft Myers Beach. 229-7356.

•Manatee Park: 10901 Palm Beach Blvd, Ft Myers. 8a - dusk. 6905030.

•Matanzas Pass Preserve: 119 Bay Rd, Ft Myers Beach. 707-3015.

•Myakka River State Park: 13207 SR 72, Sarasota. Canoeing, camping, wildlife tours by air-boat & tram, scenic drive, guided walks. 361-6511.

•North Collier Regional Park: 15000 Livingston Rd, Naples. 252-4060.

•North Ft Myers Park: 2021 N Tamiami Tr, N Ft Myers. Yoga: Wed 6p. 652-4512.

•Rutenberg Park EcoLiving Center: ‘FloridaFriendly’ Garden/Landscape Workshops: Wed 10:30a. Free. 533-7515.

•Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve: 7791 Penzance Blvd, Ft Myers. 5337550.

•Veterans Park: 55 Homestead Rd, Lehigh Acres. 369-1521.

•Wa-Ke-Hatchee Park: 16730 Bass Rd, Ft Myers. Flow Yoga & Mat Pilates: Mon-Thu 9a; Yoga & Meditation: Tue 4:30p; Tai chi: Wed 1p; Laughter Yoga: Wed 6:30p. Classes free. 432-2154.

Wine & Dine DININGGUIDE

BERT’S BAR & GRILL: 4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha.282-3232. Open Daily 11a-11p. Waterfront locationwith outside casual affordable dining on the Dock. Million Dollar View of Matlacha Pass and open water.Seafood, Burgers, Baskets & More. Wed & Fri 4-9pm All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry $9.99. Live music nightly. www.bertsbar.com

BLUE WINDOWS FRENCH BISTRO: 15250 South Tamiami Tr, #107, Ft Myers. 849-0622. Mon-Sat open at 5p for diinner. Authentic French Bistro in Fort Myers. Fine dining and intimate atmosphere with the flavors of France along with genuine Southern charm. Experience ‘Paris without the jetlag.’ Reservations accepted. www.bluewindowsbistro.com

BROADWAY PALM: 1380 Colonial Blvd., Ft. Myers. 278-4422. Wed-Sun 5:30p dinner & 7p show, with selected children’s matinees 11:45a lunch & 1:15p show. Broadway Palm, Southwest Florida's premier Dinner Theatre, is a great destination for those looking for quality entertainment and a delicious buffet at a great price. www.broadwaypalm.com

GARDNER'S PARK TEA HOUSE: Shops at The Butterfly Estates, 1815-3 Fowler St, Ft Myers. 6902359. Sun-Thu 10a-5p, Fri & Sat 10a-7p. Gardner's Park Tea House celebrates the historic achievements of Southwest Florida's earliest residents. Enjoy robust organic teas, handmade soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts, fudge and ‘Fogurt.’ www.gardnersparkteahouse.com

IL POMODORO: 9681 Gladiolus Dr, Ft Myers. 985-0080. Lunch 11a-2p Mon-Fri, Dinner Mon-Sat 4:30-9p. Cucina Italiana. Locally owned & operated. Great food and service in hip, casual, familyfriendly room. A taste of Italy. News-Press: 3 1/2 stars. www.ilpomodororestaurant.com

live music

•Bert’s Bar & Grill: 4271 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha.Live music nitely. 282-3232.

•Brew Babies Garden Bistro: 1520 Lafayette St, Cape Coral. Live music Wed-Sun 7-10p, jam sessions Sun. 542-2224.

•Buckingham Blues Bar: 5641 Buckingham Rd., Ft Myers.Live music nitely. 693-7111.

•C-Grape Coffee & Wine Bar: 4450 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. Live music Fri & Sat 7-10p. 221-7388.

•Freds Food, Fun & Spirits!: 2700 Immokalee Rd., Naples. Live music Wed-Sun. 431-7928.

•Hotel Indigo: 1520 Broadway, Ft Myers. Wed: Open Mic. 337-3446.

•Laugh-In Comedy Café: College Pkwy Shopping Center at College Pkwy & Winkler Rd, Ft Myers. Live comedy Fri & Sat. 479-LAFF.

RIVERWALK: at Tin City, 1200 5th Ave S, Naples. 263-2734. Open seven days for lunch & dinner, Sunday brunch. For outdoor waterfront dining that’s a little history and a lot of fun, since 1979. Freshest seafood, salads, steaks & sandwiches, Gulf Coast style. Sunday Brunch and Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar. www.riverwalktincity.com

THE DOCK: At Crayton Cove, 12 Ave S, Naples. 263-9940. Open seven days for lunch & dinner, Sunday brunch. Bay views, great food and a laid back attitude. ‘The real taste of Naples’ since 1976. Freshest seafood, salads, steaks and sandwiches with tropical flair. Sunday Brunch and Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar. www.dockcraytoncove.com

THE HUT at the Peace Tropical Gardens: 5051 Buckingham Rd. 225-0907. Tue-Sun 11:30am – close. The historic Hut has been completely restored from top to bottom. The magnificent gardens date back to Thomas Edison's times in the 1920's. Chef Jeff Rizzo brings his culinary artistry to the place in Southwest Florida for your special event or a night out. The new Hut is breathtaking and a must stop for all that come to Southwest Florida. www.hutrestaurant.com

Z CRÊPES CAFÉ: Shops at The Butterfly Estates, 1815-1 Fowler St, Ft Myers. 690-2359. Sun-Thur 10a-5p, Fri & Sat 10a-7p. ZCrêpes Café offers a modern take to traditional French favorites. A simple menu richly infused with the freshest of flavors. www.zcrepes.com

•Matanzas on the Bay: 414 Crescent St, Ft Myers Beach. Live music nitely 6-19p. 463-3838

•Red Rock Saloon: 2278 First St, Ft Myers. Live music Tue, Fri, Sat. 6898667.

•Roadhouse Café: 15660 San Carlos Blvd, Ft Myers. Live

•Space 39 Art Bar & Lounge: 39 Patio de Leon, Ft Myers. Live music Wed-Sat 8:30-11p. 2049949.

•Teri-Tini’s: 7050 Crystal Dr, Ft Myers. Live music nitely 7:30-11pm. 277-5475.

•The Hut at the Peace Tropical Gardens : 5150 Buckingham Rd, Ft Myers.Live music nitely & weekends. 225-0907.

•The Joint at Cape Harbour: 5785 Cape Harbour Dr, Cape Coral. Live music Tue, Fri, Sun. 542-0123.

•The Veranda: 2122 Second St, Ft Myers. Rick Russell: Thu-Sat 6:309:30p in piano lounge. 332-2065.

•Twisted Conch: 837 SE 47th Ter, Cape Coral. Live Music. 542-6622.

•Yabo: 16230 Summerlin Rd, Ft Myers. Live music. 225-9226.

FARMERS MARKETS

THURSDAY

•River District Farmers Market: Centennial Park, 2000 W First St, Ft Myers. 7a-1p. 321-7100.

FRIDAY

•Bayfront Farmers Market: 465 Bayfront Pl, Naples. 4-8p. 293-9703.

•Friendly Farmers Market: Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Pkwy, Naples. 3-7p. 786942-8300.

•Government Complex Farmers Market: 3335 US 41 E, Naples. 11a-2p.

•Shoppes at Vanderbilt

Farmers Market: Collection at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach

Rd,Naples. 12-4p. 2732350.

SATURDAY

•Alliance for the Arts’ GreenMarket: 10091 McGregor Blvd., Ft Myers. 9a-1p. 939-2787.

•Bonita Springs Farmers Market: The Promenade Shoppes, 26811 South Bay Dr,Bonita Springs. 7a12p. 495-8464.

•Friendly Farmers Market: Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Pkwy, Naples. 9a-3p. 786-942-8300.

•Third Street Farmer’s Market: 1220 Third St S, Naples. 7:30-11:30a. 6496707

SUNDAY

•North Naples Green Market: Ole Towne Center, 8020 Grand Lely Dr, Naples. 12-4p. 594-9358.

•Pine Island Tropical Fruit Market: Stringfellow Rd & Ficus Tree Ln, Bokeelia. 10a-3p.

•Sanibel Island Farmers Market: Sanibel City Hall, 800 Dunlop Road, Sanibel. 8a-1p. 691-9249.